Film cutter



Jan. 16, 1940 E. 'KANN I 2,187,655

FILI CUTTER Filed July 9, 1937 INVENTOR gauard fiamz ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIL'M CUTTER Eduard Kann, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor to N. V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken, Elndhoven, Netherlands Application July 9, 1937, Serial No. 152,863

Z-Ciaims. (Cl. 30-233) My invention relates to a device for use in pitch of the perforations-which in the present editing motion picture films, and more particuinstance is the same as'the pitch of the picture larly to a hand device for cutting and splicing frames-reference numerals l6 and I1 indicate such films. the cuts made by the cutting device, whereas w The main object of my invention is to provide represents the width of the cut. Thus, w=b 5 a simple, and inexpensive device for this purpose. the width of the overlap to be used on making Another object of my invention is to provide a the splice. device which can be used to cut the film while it Pivoted at 3 is a lever l3 having a U-shaped is still in the projector or viewing machine. cross-section. As shown in Fig. 2 one end of Another object of my invention is to provide lever 13 is provided with inwardly bent fingers 10 a device in which the film is securely held dur- H which fit between teeth 8 and serve to firmly ing the cutting. hold film IS in engagement with the teeth. A Further objects of the invention will appear compression spring it acts upon the other end as the specification progresses. of lever I3 and serves to provide the necessary The device according to the invention in its pressure on the film. Upon closure of handle 1! preferred embodiment has a plier-like construcportions 4 and 5, jaw 1 together with lever l3 tion in which one jaw is provided with teeth first move as a unit toward jaw 6 whereby fingers adapted to engage the perforations of the film I4 engage film l9 and hold same in the correct and with cutting edges which cooperate with cutengagement with teeth 8. The device is shown ting edges provided on the other jaw to cut the in this position in Figs. 1 and 2. Further move- $0 film. ment of handles 4 and 5 move jaw 1 relative to To firmly hold the film in engagement with the lever i3 and jaw 6 whereby the cutting oi. the teeth during the cutting, I provide film-holding film is effected. means, which, upon actuation of the device, au- It will be noted that the device illustrated is i tomaticaliy engage the film prior to the cutting. very simple and inexpensive, while at the same 2 In order that my invention may be clearly time accurately located cuts are obtained. understood and readily carried into effect Ishall thermore, the jaw portion is sufficiently small to describe the same in more detail with reference be inserted into a projector or viewing machine to the accompanying drawing in which, to cut the film therein. Thus, if a film is being U Figure l is a partly-sectionized side-view of a projected and it is desired tocut out a desired device according to the invention, portion, the out may be eflocted while theifilm Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. is in the machine. This is much simpler than 1, and prior methods in which indicating notches were Fig. 3 isa plain view of a film showing the cuts provided in the film while in the machine, the i 83 in same. film was removed from the machine and the cut- The device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises ting then eiiected on the usual cutting machine. two levers l and 2 pivoted at 3 and having han- While I have described my invention in condle portions 4 and 5 respectively and jaw pornection with a specific example I do not wish totions 6 and 1 respectively. The device is held in be limited thereto, but desire the appended 40 its open position by a compression member ll, claims to be construed as broadly as permissible 40 shown as a helical wound'strip of spring steel. in view of the prior art. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2 jaw portion 6 is What I claim is: p v d d w th f ur teeth 8 pa d par at the 1. A plier-like hand device for cutting motion standard spacing of the film perforations and picture films, comprising two pivoted members 46 with wo cu n edges ihwh law por on 1 having jaw portions and handle portions, one is P v with a Cutter l5 having tw cutting jaw portion having two cutting edges and teeth edges Cooperating t edges AS Shown, adapted to engage the perforation holes of the ut e es 9 a extend perpendicular t film, the other jaw portion being provided "with the longitudinal axis of a film l9, however if cutting edges cooperating with the cutting edges 50 d sir d h y m y be l d d p di up n t of the first jaw upon actuation of the device, and 50 type of splice to be made. means actuated by the movement of said han- I make the dis ance between edges 9 about dle portions to place the film incorrect engageequal to the pitch of the Picture frames minus ment with said teeth prior to the cutting and to the W dt of a 1111 D- This 15 Shown in compressively hold the film in this position dur- Fig. 3 in which reference letter b represents the ing the cutting. 56

2. A plier-like film-cutting device for cutting motion picture films, comprising a lever having a handle portion and a jaw portion provided with two parallel cutting edges, a pivot secured to said lever, a second lever rotatably mounted on said pivot and having a handle portion and a jaw portion provided with teeth adapted to engage the perforation holes of the film and with two cutting edges adapted to cooperate with the cutting edges of the first jaw to out a piece of predetermined length i'rom the film, a compression spring acting upon said handle portions to hold said Jaws in their open position, and means to place the film in engagement with said teeth prior to the closure of the jaws and firmly hold the same during the cutting thereof, said means comprising a lever rotatably mounted on said pivot and having an arm extending between said handle portions, and a compression spring between said am and one of said handleportions, said film-holding portion being provided with fingers extending between said teeth and adapted to press the film into engagement therewith upon 10 closure of said handle portions.

EDUARD KANN. 

